Telephone regulation system and portable telephone terminal device used in such a system

ABSTRACT

A telephone terminal includes: a first radio frequency communication unit; a second radio frequency communication unit that communicates through a weak wave; an optical communication unit; a telephony unit; a first switch that selectively couples the first or the second radio frequency communication unit to the telephony unit in response to an externally applied command; a incoming call detecting circuit connected to the first switch; and a second switch that selectively enables communication by the telephony unit through the first radio frequency communication unit or the optical communication unit in response to an incoming call detected by the incoming call detecting circuit, depending on the status of the first switch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a system to regulate usage ofthe portable telephone in public, particularly to a system thatregulates communication using radio waves that may adversely affect thehuman body in public.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] The use of portable telephones is exploding in the past severalyears because devices are reduced in size by the advance in electronictechnology, by the development of infrastructure for wireless telephonecommunication in cities and in other areas, and the change in the lifestyle of the youth. The number of portable telephones used in Japan isnow substantially equal to or more than the number of the conventionalfixed type telephone sets. Some pay stations that are scarcely used havebeen removed corresponding to the spread of such portable telephones.

[0005] In accordance with the spread of portable telephones, the problemof the undesirable effect caused by radio waves used as thecommunication media for the portable phones is noteworthy. Although itis not yet concluded that radio waves of the intensity level employedfor portable telephones definitely and adversely affect the human body,the possibility cannot be denied. Furthermore, attention is focused onthe problem that the radio waves employed in portable phones willadversely affect other electronic equipment.

[0006] A typical example is the problem that a pacemaker embedded in theheart of a human being suffering from arrhythmia, for example, may stopor go out of control by the radio waves of portable phones. Such anaccident would be a serious problem immediately affecting one's life.This problem will be more serious when people of various conditions areextremely close to each other physically such as in a crowded train orthe like.

[0007] In hospitals, aircrafts or in any places where many pieces ofelectronic equipment are used, erroneous operation of the electronicdevices may be caused by the radio waves of portable telephones.Erroneous operation of such devices used in the treatment and diagnosisin hospitals will affect man's life as in the case of the pacemaker. Inthe case of an aircraft, erroneous operation of the avionics equipmentmay jeopardize the lives of many people. Such problems must be solvedurgently before portable telephones and electronic equipment are furtherspread in the society.

[0008] The problems caused by portable telephones are not limited tothose related to electronic equipment. For example, in cinemas,theaters, concert halls and the like, the ring of a portable telephonefrom the audience during performance will spoil the atmosphere and annoythe people in the neighborhood. At the current stage, notice is made toswitch off the portable telephone prior to performance at such places.However, the event of a portable phone ringing from the audience duringperformance is still encountered. There is a demand to solve suchproblems.

[0009] There are some facilities such as concert halls where acousticeffects are critical that have a noise wave emitted internally todisable reception of a portable telephone call in order to solve such aproblem. In this case, the advantageous use of a portable phone such asachieving contact with a target party immediately will be lost. The needarises for the art to suppress undesirable affect to one's surroundingswhile making good use of the merit of the portable telephone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention isto provide a telephone regulation system to regulate usage of a portabletelephone and a portable telephone device employed in such a system sothat one's surroundings are not adversely affected.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a telephoneregulation system to regulate usage of a portable telephone and aportable telephone device used in such a system, making good use of themerit of the portable telephone without adversely affecting one'ssurroundings.

[0012] A telephone regulation system according to the present inventionregulates the usage of a telephone terminal that effects conversationthrough radio waves. Each telephone terminal has the function to disablecommunication by radio waves upon receiving a predetermined firstcommand through radio communication, and to enable communication throughradio waves upon receiving a predetermined second command through radiocommunication. The telephone regulation system includes an approachrecognition device provided in the neighborhood of an approach path to apredetermined region to transmit a first command through a weak wave toa telephone terminal passing the neighborhood thereof and entering thepredetermined region, and a departure recognition device provided in theneighborhood of a departure path from the predetermined region totransmit a second command through a weak wave to the telephone terminalpassing the neighborhood thereof and departing from the predeterminedregion.

[0013] When a telephone terminal enters the predetermined region, thefirst command is transmitted from the approach recognition device to thetelephone terminal, whereby the telephone terminal disablescommunication through radio waves. Accordingly, communication by thetelephone terminal using radio waves is regulated in the predeterminedregion. When the telephone terminal departs from the predeterminedregion, the second command is transmitted from the departure recognitiondevice to the telephone terminal, whereby the telephone terminal enablescommunication through radio waves. Accordingly, the general conversationthrough radio waves is allowed outside the predetermined region. Sinceradio waves are not used within the predetermined region forcommunication, the possibility of adversely affecting electronicequipment or providing an unpreferable effect on the human being is low.

[0014] Preferably, each of the approach recognition device and thedeparture recognition device has the function to obtain a telephonenumber of the telephone terminal by communication with the telephoneterminal passing the neighborhood by a weak wave. The telephoneregulation system further includes a storage device to store thetelephone number, and a manager circuit to govern the telephone numberstored in the storage device according to the telephone numbertransmitted from the approach recognition device and the departurerecognition device.

[0015] Since the telephone number of a telephone terminal located withina predetermined region can be governed by the manager circuit, thetelephone terminal present within the predetermined region can beidentified.

[0016] Further preferably, the telephone regulation system includes acall sense device to sense a call to a telephone terminal by an externalradio wave, a match detection circuit connected to the storage deviceand the call sense device to detect whether the telephone numberincluded in the call sensed by the call sense device matches thetelephone number stored in the storage device, a calling device to callwithin a predetermined region the telephone number stored in the storagedevice corresponding to the detection of a match with the telephonenumber included in the call by the match detection circuit, and a callrelay device to relay conversation between the telephone terminalresponding to the call by the calling device and the telephone terminalissuing the call sensed by the call sense device.

[0017] When a call from an external source is issued with respect to thetelephone number stored in the storage device, a call is issued to therelevant telephone number in the predetermined region. Conversation canbe carried out if the telephone terminal responds to the call.Therefore, good use can be made of a telephone terminal as communicationmeans.

[0018] Further preferably, each telephone terminal includes a device toswitch among the function of carrying out conversation through opticalcommunication, the function of carrying out communication throughoptical communication in response to a first or second command, and thefunction of carrying out communication by the general radio wave. Thetelephone regulation system further includes an optical communicationdevice provided within the predetermined region to carry out opticalcommunication with a telephone terminal. The calling device includes adevice to effect a call towards a telephone terminal through opticalcommunication using the optical communication device.

[0019] A call can be placed within the predetermined region throughoptical communication. The problem of adversely affecting electronicequipment and the like is suppressed since the call is not carried outusing a strong wave.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a telephoneregulation system regulates usage of a telephone terminal that carriesout conversation through radio waves. The telephone regulation systemincludes a plurality of telephone terminals. Each telephone terminal hasthe function to disable communication through radio waves upon receivinga predetermined first command. The telephone regulation system furtherincludes an approach recognition device provided in the neighborhood ofan approach path to a predetermined region to transmit a first commandthrough a weak wave to a telephone terminal passing the neighborhood andapproaching the predetermined region. Accordingly, conversation usingradio waves by a telephone terminal is regulated in the predeterminedregion.

[0021] When a person with a telephone terminal enters a predeterminedregion, the first command is transmitted from the approach recognitiondevice through a weak wave. Conversation by the telephone terminalthrough radio waves is disabled in response to this first command.Therefore, the adverse affect on electronic equipment by radio waves ofthe telephone terminal can be prevented in the predetermined region.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the present invention, aportable telephone terminal device includes a first communication deviceto carry out communication through a radio wave, a second communicationdevice to carry out communication using light, a telephone set device,and a switch device to selectively couple the first communication deviceor the second communication device with the unit of the telephone set inresponse to the command received through the first communication device.

[0023] Upon receiving a command via the first communication device,automatic switching between communication through radio waves andcommunication through light is allowed. The user can use the appropriateconversation scheme without particularly being aware of what medium isemployed for telephone communication at the site where the user iscurrently located.

[0024] According to still another aspect of the present invention, aportable telephone terminal device includes a telephone set circuit, aradio communication device, an optical communication device, and acommunication interface selectively coupling one of the radiocommunication device and optical communication device with the telephoneset circuit in response to a command received via the radiocommunication device.

[0025] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, amethod of regulating conversation by a portable telephone includes thesteps of maintaining a table of a telephone number of a portabletelephone set present within a second region in a storage device bycommunicating through a weak wave with a portable telephone set passingthe boundary between first and second regions, the portable telephoneset being capable of communication by radio and communication by light,determining whether a telephone number corresponding to a call is storedin the storage device by searching the storage device in response to thecall towards a portable telephone through external radio communication,calling a portable telephone set of the telephone number correspondingto the call in the second region using an optical communication deviceprovided in the second region in response to determination of atelephone number corresponding to the call stored in the storage device,and relaying the call to the responding terminal telephone set in thesecond region in response to the response from the portable telephoneset.

[0026] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantagesof the present invention will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a vehicle of a train mounted witha telephone regulation system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0028]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a vehicle of a train mounted with thetelephone regulation system of the first embodiment.

[0029]FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a front view, respectively, ofa portable telephone according to the first embodiment.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion of the telephone regulationsystem of the first embodiment mounted on a vehicle.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a portable telephone used in thesystem of the first embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a process of approach recognition devicereception carried out by the onboard system of the first embodiment.

[0033]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a process of general call receptioncarried out by the onboard system of the first embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a process of departure recognitiondevice reception carried out by the onboard system of the firstembodiment.

[0035]FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a communication process carried out by aportable telephone used in the system of the first embodiment.

[0036]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an onboard system used in atelephone regulation system according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0037]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a portable telephone set used in thesystem of the second embodiment.

[0038]FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a process carried out by an onboardbase station 184 of the system of the second embodiment in response toan external call.

[0039]FIG. 13 is a flow chart of a process carried out by a portableterminal 200 used in the system of the second embodiment when acommunication is received.

[0040]FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an onboard system 220 according to afourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a portable telephone 230 of thefourth embodiment.

[0042]FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a process carried out when there is anexternal call in onboard system 220 of the fourth embodiment.

[0043]FIG. 17 is a flow chart of a process carried out when externalcommunication is received in portable telephone 230 of the fourthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] First Embodiment

[0045] Application of a portable telephone regulation system accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention to a vehicle of a trainwill be described hereinafter. It is apparent to those skilled in theart that the present system is not limited to a train, and is applicableto places where many people or of general public assemble or wheresilence is desired such as inside a bus, an aircraft, a boat or a ship,hospitals, concert halls, theaters, cinemas, museums, galleries,aquariums, libraries, schools, gymnasiums, lecture halls, departmentstores, crowded platforms, and at street corners where many people arewaiting for stoplights to change.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 1, the present system includes an approachrecognition device 34 provided, for example, above a door opening 32 ofa vehicle 30 where passengers get on/off that senses a person with aportable telephone boarding vehicle 30. By the information obtainedthrough approach recognition device 34, control is provided so that theportable telephone is inhibited of communication through radio waves invehicle 30, and so that the portable telephone in vehicle 30 can carryout communication with an external source through communication usinglight that does not adversely affect the surroundings. The structurethereof will be described in detail hereinafter.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, the system of the first embodiment has anapproach recognition device 34 provided at each door opening 32 ofvehicle 30 and also at the passage opening with the preceding andsucceeding vehicles. All approach recognition devices 34 are undercontrol of the onboard system provided in vehicle 30. This systemincludes a plurality of optical communication devices 36 provided at theceiling of vehicle 30. Each optical communication device 36 serves toallow communication with a portable telephone through opticalcommunication using infrared.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a portable telephone set 50 used inthe present system includes an antenna 62 to effect communicationthrough radio as in the conventional case, and also an opticalcommunication device 64 to carry out communication with opticalcommunication device 36 using light as the medium. A further detailedfunctional block of portable telephone set 50 will be describedafterwards.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 4, the telephone regulation system of the firstembodiment includes an approach recognition device 34 provided aboverespective doors of a train commanding a portable telephone to switch toa communication mode employing optical communication instead of radiowaves when a passenger carrying a portable phone gets on the trainthrough the door, an onboard system 70 provided for each vehicle of thetrain to effect telephone conversation between a portable telephone inthe vehicle and an external source through optical communication device36, and a departure recognition device 80 provided in the neighborhoodof the door of the vehicle to the platform to provide a command so as toswitch the optical communication mode of the portable telephone carriedby the passenger getting off the train to a communication mode throughthe general radio waves.

[0050] Onboard system 70 includes a station management database 76 tostore information such as telephone numbers of portable telephonespresent in the vehicle under control of onboard system 70, an onboardbase station 74 to update and govern the information in stationmanagement database 76 according to information from approachrecognition device 34 and departure recognition device 80, a telephonerelay device 78 for onboard base station 74 to carry out communicationthrough radio with an external telephone, a communication device 72 tomediate communication between departure recognition device 80 andonboard base station 74 by radio, and a plurality of opticalcommunication devices 36 mentioned already for onboard base station 74to carry out communication with a portable telephone in the relevantvehicle through light.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 5, portable telephone set 50 used in thepresent system includes an antenna 62 and a radio communication device96 to carry out normal telephone communication through radio, an opticalcommunication device 64 to carry out optical communication, acommunication interface 92 connected to radio communication device 96and optical communication device 64 to select either thereof, a switchcontrol unit 94 connected to radio communication device 96 andcommunication interface 92 to control communication interface 92 so asto select optical communication device 64 and radio communication device96 when the signal received via radio communication device 96 is fromapproach recognition device 34 and from departure recognition device 80,respectively, a telephone unit 90 connected to communication interface92 to carry out communication using optical communication device 64 orradio communication device 96, a memory 102 used by telephone unit 90,that stores information of telephone numbers and the like, an operationpanel 98 and a display 100 connected to telephone unit 90, a microphone108, an amplifier 104 and a speaker 106 connected to telephone unit 90for the usage of the general telephone, a buzzer to notify an incomingcall by sound, and a vibration generation device 109 to notify anincoming call by vibration.

[0052] Onboard base station 74 shown in FIG. 4 is implemented by amicroprocessor and a program executed by the microprocessor. Referringto FIG. 6, the program of onboard base station 74 of onboard system 70has a control configuration as set forth in the following. Uponreceiving a message or a communication from departure recognition device80 via communication device 72, from an external source via telephonerelay device 78, from approach recognition device 34, and from aportable telephone present in the vehicle via optical communicationdevice 36, a program corresponding to the type of the received messageor communication is operated in onboard base station 74.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, upon receiving a message including thetelephone number of the portable telephone carried by the passenger thatis boarding from approach recognition device 34, onboard base station 74looks into station management database 76 to determine whether thetelephone number is recorded in station management database 76 (110). Ifthat telephone number is not recorded in station management database 76,onboard base station 74 registers this number in station managementdatabase 76 (112), and ends the process. When the telephone number isalready recorded in station management database 76, nothing is carriedout, and the process ends.

[0054] By the process shown in FIG. 6, the telephone number of aportable telephone carried by a passenger boarding the vehicle isrecorded in station management database 76.

[0055] The operation of onboard base station 74 when an external call isissued to a portable telephone will be described with reference to FIG.7. First, determination is made whether the portable telephone numberincluded in the calling signal is recorded in station managementdatabase 76 or not (130). If this number is not recorded in stationmanagement database 76, no process is carried out since this call is notdirected to a portable telephone present in that vehicle.

[0056] When the portable telephone number included in the calling signalis found in station management database 76, onboard base station 74issues a calling signal towards the portable telephone by opticalcommunication using optical communication device 36 in the vehicle.Determination is made whether there is a response from the relevantportable telephone corresponding to this calling signal (134). If thereis a response, relay of the communication between an external telephoneand the portable telephone in the vehicle is initiated via telephonerelay device 78, onboard base station 74 and optical communicationdevice 36 (136). Then the process ends.

[0057] When determination is made that there is no response with respectto the call at step 134, the case where the relevant portable telephoneis left in the baggage, for example, can be considered. In this case, anoperation such as of an automatic answering device (the so-called answerphone) is to be carried out. More specifically, a predetermined voiceguidance notifying that a message can be left is synthesized andtransmitted to the calling station via telephone relay device 78 (138).When a message is transmitted from the calling station in response tothis guidance (generally, voice message), this message is digitallyrecorded (140), and data-compressed to be stored in station managementdatabase 76 in association with the telephone number (142). When therecording and storing operation of the message ends, the line isdisconnected, and the process ends.

[0058] A process as shown in FIG. 8 is carried out when the receivedmessage is from departure recognition device 80. It is assumed that thetelephone number of the portable telephone communicating with departurerecognition device 80 is transmitted as a message to onboard basestation 74 via communication device 72 from departure recognition device80.

[0059] First, determination is made whether the transmitted telephonenumber is recorded in station management database 76 (120). If notrecorded, the process immediately ends. If the number is recorded,determination is made whether there is a message recorded at step 140 ofFIG. 7 with respect to this telephone number (122). If there is nomessage left, this number is deleted from station management database 76(126), and the process ends. When determination is made that a messagecorresponding to this telephone number is recorded in station managementdatabase 76 at step 122, the portable telephone of the relevant numberis called via telephone relay device 78. A process to transmit therecorded message is initiated (124). At step 126 following step 124, therelevant telephone number is deleted from station management database76, and the process ends.

[0060] According to the foregoing process, the exit of a passengercarrying a portable telephone is sensed by departure recognition device80, and station management database 76 is updated by onboard basestation 74 receiving that message. The portable telephone of thatpassenger receives a command to switch to the communication mode byradio from departure recognition device 80. Therefore, the portabletelephone is switched from the optical communication mode in the vehicleto the normal radio communication mode so as to be used as a normalportable telephone.

[0061] The process carried out by switch control unit 94 of portabletelephone set 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The processshown in FIG. 9 is actuated when a message or communication is received.First, determination is made whether the message or communication thathas triggered this process is a normal call or not (150). Whendetermination is made that this communication is a normal call at step150, the conversation process by telephone unit 90 is initiated (152),and the process ends. At this stage, either radio communication device96 or optical communication device 64 is coupled to communicationinterface 92 by the function of switch control unit 94. Telephonecommunication is carried out by portable telephone set 50 viacommunication interface 92. Communication interface 92 conceals thedifference in the communication scheme. Therefore, the communicationprocess per se carried out by telephone unit 90 is identical in opticalcommunication and radio communication. As to this normal call, a callingoperation using a buzzer 107 or a vibration generation device 109 iscarried out. In the operation through the normal radio waves, the usageof either buzzer 107 or vibration generation device 109 corresponds tothe setting made in advance by the user. In the operation throughoptical communication, usage of vibration generation device 109 isselected irrespective of the presetting of the user.

[0062] When determination is made that the call is not the normal callas a result of step 150, control proceeds to step 154 to determinewhether the message or the communication is a command to switch thecommunication mode from departure recognition device 80. In the case ofa communication mode switch command from departure recognition device80, switch control unit 94 couples communication interface 92 with radiocommunication device 96, and the communication mode of portabletelephone set 50 is switched to the normal communication mode throughradio waves (160). Then, the process ends. It is to be noted that eitherbuzzer 107 or vibration generation device 109 preset by the user isselected as signaling an incoming call.

[0063] When determination is made that the message is not a command fromdeparture recognition device 80 as a result of the determination of step154, control proceeds to step 156 to determine whether the message isfrom approach recognition device 34. When this message is from approachrecognition device 34, switch control unit 94 couples communicationinterface 92 with optical communication device 64, and disconnects radiocommunication device 96. At the time of calling corresponding to anincoming call, the setting is switched to force the usage of vibrationgeneration device 109 irrespective of the general call setting by theuser. Control switch unit 94 controls radio communication device 96 tosuppress communication with the base station through radio waves, andallows communication only through a weak radio wave. Since communicationthrough a weak radio wave is allowed, the passenger carrying thisportable telephone set can receive the radio wave from departurerecognition device 80 when getting off the vehicle. Departurerecognition device 80 is installed at a position so that the distancebetween the portable telephone carried by the passenger and departurerecognition device 80 is generally extremely small. Therefore, theoperational mode of portable telephone set 50 can be switched even witha weak radio wave. The possibility of adversely affecting the human bodyor electronic equipment is extremely low since the radio wave is weak.The process ends after step 158.

[0064] When determination is made that the received communication is notfrom approach recognition device 34 at step 156, a process correspondingto the contents of the received communication is carried out, and theprocess ends. This process is not depicted in FIG. 9 for the sake ofsimplification.

[0065] It is apparent from the foregoing that portable telephone set 50is switched to a communication mode using optical communication device64 when portable telephone set 50 receives a command to switch to theoptical communication mode from approach recognition device 34.Therefore, the radio wave issued from the portable telephone is little,if any, in contrast to the case where the normal communication usingradio waves is carried out. The possibility of adversely affectingelectronic equipment such as a pacemaker is extremely low. Since anonboard system 70 is installed at each vehicle to relay a call from anexternal source to a portable telephone present in the vehicle throughoptical communication using optical communication device 36, theadvantageous function of the portable telephone, i.e. the advantage ofimmediately contacting a target party, is not degraded. As adisadvantage of optical communication, communication is not possible ifthe portable telephone is stored inside a handbag or the like. In thiscase, onboard system 70 functions as an answering phone for the portabletelephone of the relevant telephone number to record a message from thecalling party since onboard system 70 has a station management database76 governing the telephone number of the portable telephone. The exit ofa passenger carrying the relevant portable telephone is immediatelysensed by departure recognition device 80, whereby the portabletelephone initiates the general communication operation by radio wavesand the recorded message is transmitted from onboard system 70 to therelevant telephone through radio. The user of the portable telephone canimmediately confirm the message.

[0066] According to the system of the first embodiment, the portabletelephone carries out telephone communication through opticalcommunication, not radio communication, in the vehicle. The possibilityof light adversely affecting electronic equipment is low, differing fromradio waves. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous operation ofelectronic equipment such as the pacemaker caused by a portabletelephone is reduced. Since optical communication is carried out in thevehicle, the advantage of a portable telephone can be effected. Even ifthe portable telephone is stored in a handbag so that opticalcommunication cannot be carried out, a message from an external sourcecan be recorded by the vehicle system. That message can be promptlyprovided to the passenger with the relevant portable telephoneimmediately when he/she is getting off the vehicle through radio waves.Therefore, the disadvantage of not using radio waves in the vehicle issolved.

[0067] Optical communication is employed in the vehicle in the system ofthe above-described embodiment. When the aim is to prevent the normalwaves of a portable telephone in a vehicle from adversely affectingelectronic equipment, a radio wave extremely weaker than the wave of thenormal portable telephone with hardly no possibility of adverselyaffecting electronic equipment can be used for communication instead ofoptical communication. In this case, a device to carry out communicationusing such a weak wave is to be adapted instead of optical communicationdevice 36 of the system of the first embodiment.

[0068] A radio wave of a frequency not used for a portable telephonesuch as a medium wave, a short wave, or of further higher frequency canbe employed. In this case, a telephone set that has low possibility ofadversely affecting the human body and electronic equipment is to beselected.

[0069] In carrying out optical communication in the above system, anincoming call for the portable telephone is notified only by vibrationgeneration device 109 irrespective of the setting by the user. In thecase where the present system is adapted to a theater, a cinema, aconcert hall or the like, generation of a calling sound of the portabletelephone can be suppressed so that the atmosphere during performancewill not be spoiled. The possibility of annoying people in theneighborhood can be reduced while enjoying the advantage of a portabletelephone. The portable telephone can be used without having to worryabout bothering people in the neighborhood.

[0070] Second Embodiment

[0071] The system of the previous first embodiment allows conversationbetween an external source and a portable telephone in a vehicle throughoptical communication. However, some people may be annoyed by theconversation itself carried out by a portable telephone in a vehicle.Disabling communication per se through a portable telephone in a vehiclecan be considered. However, it is not desirable to emit a noise wave inthe vehicle for that purpose from the standpoint of adversely affectingelectronic equipment. The system of the second embodiment of the presentinvention is directed to forcing the portable telephone to inhibit thenormal conversation function when a passenger with a portable telephoneboards the vehicle, and to restore the conversation function when he/sheis getting off the vehicle.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 10, an onboard system 180 of the secondembodiment includes an onboard base station 184 to govern the number andthe like of a portable telephone in a vehicle and an incoming call froman external source to a portable telephone present in the vehicle, anapproach recognition device 34 similar to that used in the firstembodiment, connected to onboard base station 184, a communicationdevice 72 to relay communication between departure recognition device 80and onboard base station 184, a station management database 76 similarto that used in the first embodiment to store the number of a portabletelephone governed by onboard base station 184, a message from anexternal source, or the like, and a telephone relay device 78 connectedto onboard base station 184.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 11, a portable telephone 200 used in the systemof the second embodiment differs from portable telephone set 50 of thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in that a radio communication device 96is directly connected to telephone unit 90, absent of communicationinterface 92 and optical communication device 64, and that it includes apower control unit 210 instead of switch control unit 94 of FIG. 5.Power control unit 210 controls a power source 212 of portable telephone200 according to a signal received from approach recognition device 34or departure recognition device 80 via antenna 62 and radiocommunication device 96 to supply power only to a small portion ofportable telephone 200 in the vehicle. The remaining elements ofportable telephone 200 are similar to those of portable telephone set 50of FIG. 5. In FIG. 11, components corresponding to those of FIG. 5 havethe same reference characters allotted. Their functions and labels arealso identical. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not berepeated.

[0074] As to the process carried out by onboard base station 184 shownin FIG. 10, the process when receiving an approach recognition signal ofa portable telephone from approach recognition device 34 is identical tothat shown in FIG. 6. The process when receiving a departure recognitionsignal of a portable telephone from a departure recognition device 80 isidentical to that shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, detailed descriptionthereof will not be repeated here.

[0075]FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the process executed by onboard basestation 184 when there is a call from an external source. The process ofFIG. 12 differs from the process of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7in that steps 132, 134 and 136 of FIG. 7 are absent. When the telephonenumber of a portable telephone corresponding to the call is present instation management database 76, a voice guidance is immediatelytransmitted (138). A message from the calling party is recorded (140),and stored in station management database 76 (142). The steps 132, 134and 136 are not required since the portable telephone is not used in thevehicle as will be described afterwards.

[0076]FIG. 13 shows the flow chart of a process when portable telephone200 used in the system of the second embodiment receives a message or acommunication. The process of FIG. 13 differs from the process of FIG. 9carried out by portable telephone set 50 of the first embodiment in thata step 190 is included to disable normal communication by portabletelephone 200 instead of the process of switching to opticalcommunication of step 158 of FIG. 9. The remaining elements of FIG. 13are similar to those of FIG. 9. Therefore, detailed description thereofwill not be repeated here.

[0077] At step 190, power control unit 210 of FIG. 11 controls powersource 212 so as to suppress power supply except for radio communicationdevice 96 and power control unit 210. Power is supplied so as to allowcommunication only through a weak wave for radio communication device96. As to power control unit 210, an operation similar to that of anormal one is carried out since a message is to be received fromdeparture recognition device 80.

[0078] According to the system of the second embodiment, the entry of apassenger with a portable telephone is sensed by approach recognitiondevice 34. The telephone number of that portable telephone is recordedin station management database 76. Portable telephone 200 responds to anapproach recognition signal transmitted from approach recognition device34 to attain a status in which normal communication cannot be carriedout. The portable telephone becomes usable again when the passengerexits from the vehicle and a departure recognition signal is receivedfrom departure recognition device 80. When a call is issued from anexternal source to the telephone number of the portable telephone whenthe passenger is onboard, a voice guidance to the calling party is sentunder control of onboard base station 184. A message from the callingparty is recorded in station management database 76. This message istransmitted to the portable telephone from onboard base station 184 viatelephone relay device 78 when the relevant telephone becomes operable,as in the case of the first embodiment.

[0079] In the system of the second embodiment, normal communicationthrough the portable telephone of the passenger is disabled when thepassenger comes onboard. Communication is allowed after the passengerhas disembarked. In the vehicle, a radio wave as a medium of normalcommunication of a portable telephone will not be used. Therefore, thepossibility of adversely affecting electronic equipment in the vehicleis low, as in the case of the first embodiment. Although the user of theportable telephone may feel some inconvenience in comparison with thefirst embodiment since normal communication cannot be effected in thevehicle, the inconvenience is alleviated since a call from an externalsource, if any, is promptly notified to the user of the portabletelephone after the user has exited the vehicle. Passengers in theneighborhood will not be bothered by a conversation through a portabletelephone since conversation itself is disabled in the vehicle.

[0080] Third Embodiment

[0081] In the first and second embodiments, a voice guidance is sent tothe calling party to record a message when there is a call when normalcommunication through the portable telephone cannot be carried out inthe vehicle. This function is not necessarily essential to the presentinvention. In order to avoid undesirable influence by the waves of theportable telephone in the vehicle, the normal function of a portabletelephone is to be inhibited in the vehicle and restored when exiting.

[0082] To this end, a function is to be provided using approachrecognition device 34 and departure recognition device 80 to inhibit thenormal communication function in response to an approach recognitionmessage sent from approach recognition device 34 and restoring thenormal conversation function in response to a departure recognitionmessage sent from departure recognition device 80.

[0083] The structure of approach recognition device 34 and departurerecognition device 80 will be obvious to those skilled in the art sinceit is only required to transmit a typical message through a weak wave.

[0084] As a portable telephone, a phone similar to portable telephone200 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is to be used.

[0085] According to the present system, a portable telephone whenpresent in a vehicle cannot be used and communication cannot be carriedout even when there is a call from an external source during thatperiod. This is inconvenient for a user of the portable telephone.However, there is the advantage of avoiding adverse affect of theportable telephone with a simple structure of the system since onlyapproach recognition device 34 and departure recognition device 80 areto be used as the facility in addition to the portable telephone.

[0086] Fourth Embodiment

[0087] In the system of the previous first embodiment, only opticalcommunication is used in the vehicle. Optical communication isdisadvantageous in that it cannot be carried out if the portable phoneis stored in a handbag or the like. When there is no response to a callthrough optical communication to a portable telephone in a vehicle inthe system of the first embodiment, a message from an external source isrecorded. However, it is preferable to immediately effect a callcorresponding to an incoming call to make good use of the advantage of aportable telephone. The system of the fourth embodiment is characterizedin that an incoming call is immediately effected.

[0088] Identification can be made whether a portable telephone of arelevant telephone number is present in the vehicle by using stationmanagement database 76. By providing a plurality of opticalcommunication devices 36 in the vehicle and also a device to carry outcommunication using waves, a call can be effected to the portabletelephone even with an extremely weak wave. Thus, the system of thepresent fourth embodiment effects calling through an extremely weak wavewhen there is an incoming call to a portable telephone in the vehiclefrom an external source. The user will generally pull out a portabletelephone, even if it is stored in a handbag or the like, when there isa call. Then, communication through light is allowed. In the case wherethere is a response to a call through a weak wave, the mode is switchedto optical communication to carry out conversation. The structurethereof will be described in detail hereinafter.

[0089] Referring to FIG. 14, an onboard system 220 of the system of thefourth embodiment differs from onboard system 70 of FIG. 4 in that aplurality of calling devices 224 to send a call to a portable telephonein the vehicle through a weak wave is newly included, and that anonboard base station 222 is provided instead of onboard base station 74.Onboard base station 222 issues a call through a weak wave by callingdevice 224 when there is an incoming call from an external source to aportable telephone within the vehicle. When there is a response from theportable telephone, the conversation is relayed through opticalcommunication using optical communication device 36.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 15, a portable telephone 230 used in the systemof the fourth embodiment includes a switch control unit 232 instead ofswitch control unit 94 of portable telephone set 50 of FIG. 5. Switchcontrol unit 232 has the function to respond to a call through a weakwave via radio communication device 96 and antenna 62, and also toswitch communication interface 92 SO as to carry out opticalcommunication using optical communication device 64. In FIG. 15,components corresponding to those shown in FIG. 5 have the samereference characters allotted. Their labels and function are identical.Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

[0091] In the system of the fourth embodiment, the process carried outwhen onboard system 220 receives notification of a telephone number of aportable phone of a passenger onboard from approach recognition device34 and when onboard system 220 receives notification of a telephonenumber of a portable telephone of an alighting passenger from departurerecognition device 80 are similar to the processes shown in FIGS. 6 and8, respectively.

[0092] The operation of onboard system 220 when there is a call to aportable telephone whose telephone number is recorded in stationmanagement database 76 will be described with reference to FIG. 16. Uponreceiving an external calling signal, determination is made whether thetelephone number in the received signal is recorded in stationmanagement database 76 (130). When the telephone number is not recordedin station management database 76, the process directly ends since thetarget telephone number is not present in the vehicle.

[0093] When the relevant telephone number is stored in stationmanagement database 76, a call is issued to the portable telephonethrough a weak wave using calling device 224 (240). Determination ismade whether there is a response to this call (242). When there is nocall, the process directly ends (242). Since the system of the presentembodiment employs a radio wave for calling, the possibility thatcalling is disabled is low in comparison with the case where calling iseffected through optical communication. The possibility is high that theportable telephone of the relevant telephone number is not present inthe vehicle when there is no response. Therefore, unlike the firstembodiment, a message is not recorded. Alternatively, the system may bemodified to allow message recording.

[0094] When there is response from a portable telephone at step 242, thecommunication mode is switched to the optical communication mode (246).The process of relaying a conversation using optical communicationdevice 36 is initiated (248). Then, the process ends.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 17, portable telephone 230 used in the fourthembodiment carries out a process set forth in the following when acommunication is received from an external source. First, determinationis made whether the received communication is a call or not (150). Ifthe communication is a call, determination is made whether it is a callthrough a normal wave (262). If the call is through a normal wave,communication is switched to the normal communication using radio waves(266). Conversation through the telephone unit is carried out (152).When determination is made that it is not a normal call, i.e. a callthrough a weak wave, at step 262, the mode is switched to thecommunication mode using optical communication device 36 (264).Conversation by the telephone unit is carried out (152).

[0096] When determination is made that the received communication is nota call at step 150, control proceeds to step 154 to determine whetherthe received communication is a command recognizing departure fromdeparture recognition device 80. When the communication is a departurerecognition command, the mode is switched to that of a normal radio wave(160). Then, the process ends. If the received communication is not adeparture recognition command, control proceeds to step 156 to determinewhether the communication is an approach recognition command fromapproach recognition device 34. In the case where the receivedcommunication is an approach recognition command, communication isswitched to that of a weak wave (step 260). Then, the process ends.

[0097] When a user with a portable telephone gets on the vehicle,portable telephone 230 attains a communication mode using only a weakradio wave in response to an approach recognition command from approachrecognition device 34. Accordingly, a call using a weak radio wave isallowed by calling device 224 in the vehicle. Differing from a call byoptical communication, the possibility of not being able to respond to acall is reduced.

[0098] When there is an incoming call from an external source to arelevant portable telephone if the user is in the vehicle, a call isissued through a weak wave from calling device 224. In response to thiscall by the portable telephone, communication is switched to opticalcommunication at both onboard system 220 and portable telephone 230.Conversation through optical communication is relayed. The user willgenerally maintain the portable telephone at a position where opticalcommunication is possible. Therefore, conversation of high audio qualityusing optical communication can be carried out. Since a radio wave isnot used for the conversation, there is no possibility of adverselyaffecting other electronic equipment by the radio wave.

[0099] Upon exit of the user from the vehicle, the portable telephone ofthat user receives a departure recognition command from departurerecognition device 80. In response to this command, portable telephone23 switches the communication mode to a mode using normal radio wavefrom a weak wave. Accordingly, conversation using a radio wave identicalto that of a normal case is allowed outside the vehicle.

[0100] Although the present invention has been described and illustratedin detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way ofillustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limitedonly by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A telephone regulation system to regulate usageof a telephone terminal that effects conversation through a wirelessradio wave, each said telephone terminal having a function to disableand enable conversation through a wireless radio wave upon receivingthrough radio communication a predetermined first command and apredetermined second command, respectively, comprising: an approachrecognition device to be provided at a neighborhood of an approach pathto a predetermined region, transmitting said first command through aweak wave to a telephone terminal passing through said neighborhood andentering said predetermined region, and a departure recognition deviceto be provided at a neighborhood of a departure path from saidpredetermined region, transmitting said second command through a weakradio wave to a telephone terminal passing through said neighborhood todepart from said predetermined region, whereby communication by atelephone terminal using said wireless radio wave is regulated in saidpredetermined region.
 2. The telephone regulation system according toclaim 1, wherein each of said approach recognition device and saiddeparture recognition device has a function to obtain a telephone numberof a telephone terminal by communication through a weak radio wave withsaid telephone terminal passing the neighborhood, said telephoneregulation system further comprising: a storage device provided in saidpredetermined region to store a telephone number, and a base stationprovided in said predetermined region to govern the telephone numberstored in said storage device according to a telephone numbertransmitted from said approach recognition device and said departurerecognition device.
 3. The telephone regulation system according toclaim 2, further comprising: means for sensing a call to a telephoneterminal by a wireless radio wave from an external source, matchdetection means connected to said storage device and said call sensemeans for detecting whether the telephone number included in the callsensed by said call sense means matches the telephone number stored insaid storage device, calling means for calling in said predeterminedregion the telephone number stored in said storage device when a matchwith the telephone number included in said call is detected by saidmatch detection means, and a call relay device to relay conversationbetween a telephone terminal responding to a call by said calling meansand a telephone terminal issuing the call sensed by said call sensemeans.
 4. The telephone regulation system according to claim 3, whereineach said telephone terminal further includes means for switching amonga function carrying out conversation through optical communication, afunction carrying out conversation through said optical communication inresponse to said first or second command, and a function to carry outconversation through a normal radio wave, said telephone regulationsystem further comprising an optical communication device provided insaid predetermined region to carry out optical communication with atelephone terminal, wherein said calling means further comprises meansfor calling a telephone terminal through optical communication usingsaid optical communication device.
 5. The telephone regulation systemaccording to claim 3, further comprising a weak wave communicationdevice provided in said predetermined region to carry out communicationwith a telephone terminal through a weak wave, wherein said callingmeans comprises means for calling a telephone terminal by a weak wavecommunication using said weak wave communication device.
 6. Thetelephone regulation system according to claim 5, further comprising anoptical communication device provided in said predetermined region tocarry out optical communication with a telephone terminal, wherein saidcall relay device comprises means for relaying a conversation between atelephone terminal responding to a call by said calling means and atelephone terminal that issued a call sensed by said call sense meansthrough optical communication using said optical communication device inresponse to said telephone terminal responding to a call using a weakradio wave by said calling means.
 7. The telephone regulation systemaccording to claim 3, further comprising automatic answer means foreffecting a predetermined automatic answer to a telephone terminalissuing the call sensed by said call sense means when a telephoneterminal that responds to the call by said calling means is not present.8. The telephone regulation system according to claim 7, wherein saidautomatic answer means comprises means for transmitting a predeterminedvoice guidance to a telephone terminal issuing the call sensed by saidcall sense means when a telephone terminal that responds to the call bysaid calling means is not present, and means for storing in said storagedevice in relation with said telephone number a message transmitted fromthe telephone terminal issuing said call with respect to said voiceguidance, said telephone regulation system further comprising means fortransmitting said message stored in said storage device to the telephoneterminal corresponding to said telephone number in response totransmission of said telephone number from said departure recognitiondevice.
 9. A telephone regulation system to regulate usage of atelephone terminal that carries out conversation using a wireless radiowave, comprising: a plurality of telephone terminals, each saidtelephone terminal having a function to disable conversation by awireless radio wave upon receiving a predetermined first command throughradio communication, an approach recognition device provided in aneighborhood of an approach path to a predetermined region to transmitsaid first command through a weak wave to a telephone terminal passingsaid neighborhood and entering said predetermined region, wherebyconversation using said wireless radio wave by a telephone terminal isregulated in said predetermined region.
 10. The telephone regulationsystem according to claim 9, wherein each said telephone terminalfurther has a function to enable conversation through a wireless radiowave upon receiving a predetermined second command through radiocommunication, said telephone regulation system further comprising adeparture recognition device provided in a neighborhood of a departurepath from said predetermined region to transmit said second commandthrough a weak wave to a telephone terminal passing through saidneighborhood to depart from said predetermined region, wherebyconversation by a telephone terminal using said wireless radio wave isregulated in said predetermined region, and allowing conversation by atelephone terminal using said wireless radio wave outside saidpredetermined region.
 11. A portable telephone terminal devicecomprising: first communication means for carrying out communicationusing a wireless radio wave, second communication means for carrying outcommunication using light, a telephone unit, and switch means forselectively coupling one of said first communication means and saidsecond communication means with said telephone unit in response to acommand received via said first communication means.
 12. The portabletelephone terminal device according to claim 11, further comprisingmeans for setting said first communication means at an operation modeallowing reception of only a weak wave upon receiving a predeterminedfirst command via said first communication means, and setting said firstcommunication means at an operation mode allowing conversation throughsaid wireless radio wave upon receiving a predetermined second commandvia said first communication means.
 13. A portable telephone terminaldevice comprising: a telephone circuit, a radio communication device, anoptical communication device, and a communication interface selectivelycoupling one of said radio communication device and said opticalcommunication device with said telephone circuit in response to acommand received via said radio communication device.
 14. The portabletelephone terminal device according to claim 13, further comprising aswitch control circuit setting said radio wave communication device atan operation mode capable of receiving only a weak wave upon receiving apredetermined first command via said radio communication device, andsetting said radio communication device at an operation mode capable ofconversation through a radio wave having power greater than the power ofsaid weak wave upon receiving a predetermined second command via saidradio communication device.
 15. A method of regulating conversation by aportable telephone comprising the steps of: by communicating through aweak wave with a portable telephone set passing a boundary of a firstregion and a second region, maintaining a table of a telephone number ofa portable telephone set present within said second region in a storagedevice, said portable telephone set being capable of communication byradio and communication by light, searching said storage device todetermine whether a telephone number corresponding to said call isstored in said storage device in response to a call to a portabletelephone from an external source through radio, calling a telephone setof the telephone number corresponding to said call in said second regionusing an optical communication device provided in said second region inresponse to determination that said telephone number corresponding tosaid call is stored in said storage device, and in response to aresponse from said portable telephone set towards the call carried outin said second region, relaying said call to said responding portabletelephone set in said second region.
 16. The method of regulatingconversation by a portable telephone according to claim 15, furthercomprising the step of transmitting a signal through radio commandingrestoration to a normal conversation mode to a telephone set passingthrough said boundary from said second region to said first region.